And don’t forget!
This year’s kick-off of the festival will be at the Missoula Carousel

Thursday, September 14
A Carousel for Missoula
5:30-7:30pm

Come & Ride the Wild Ponies: Opening Event for EIFF 2017 Missoula Carousel in Caras Park
EIFF Free Community Event
This is a Welcome event with great, local refreshments right off the farm!
Free Carousel Pony Rides
Pick up a festival program, meet some of the filmmakers, and maybe a real horse or two

Film Screenings10-10:15am“Indian Relay Racing”
(America’s oldest sport, it is also one of the most exciting and most dangerous, but its emphasis is also on the safety of the horse, the participants and the spectators.)
Run Time: 11:00 minutes

10:30-11am“Badger Creek”Badger Creek is a portrait of Native resilience as seen through a year in the life of three generations of a Blackfeet family. Introduced by Executive Producer, Rhea Ashmore & Cinematographer, Doug Hawes Davis
Run Time: 30:00 minutes

Noon-1pm“Palm Island: Horse Sense for People” – Finalist
U.S. Premier
Monty Roberts was called in to help save wild horses on Palm Island, Australia. When he arrived, he began to work with local Aboriginal youth and as they learned Join Up, so much in their lives began to change.
Run Time: 45:00 minutes

1-1:05pm
“The Girl and the Horse”Written, directed & animated by Rebecca Manley. A small girl is crying because there is a hole in her stomach, suddenly a mysterious horse appears and things begin to change.
A charming message and a great little animated film for all ages
Run Time: 3:14 minutes

1:05-1:35pm“The Wild Ones”
A group of teens begin an alternative learning program at a horse rescue and sanctuary
Run Time: 30:00 minutes

3:30-4:30pm“Talking to the Air: Horses of the Last Forbidden KingdomIn modern society, horse ownership is often regarded as a luxury of the wealthy or the hobby of eccentrics. But high in the Himalayas of Nepal, the Lo people of Mustang still depend on the horse for their survival and place the equine at the center of their Tibetan-placed culture and spiritual life. These unique peoples and their struggle against globalization, are at the heart of a beautiful documentary by Horsefly Films’ Rare Equine Trust. Filmmaker Sophie de Pegrum will introduce the film.Finalist-Best Documentary Feature
Run Time: 58:00 minutes